“This policy is the step-change Australia has long been
waiting for,” Mr Jafari said.

“It would finally see Australia accelerating from the back
of the global pack as we should. We are a well-resourced, modern nation full of
people who care about their local environments and the planet.

“The lack of certainty and support that the Australian
Government has offered the electric vehicle sector to date is unique in global
terms. But Labor’s 50 per cent target will finally show industry that Australia
is committed to an electric transition and allow greater investment to follow.

“Without a hard target or an improvement in emissions standards, Australia is destined to become a dumping ground for dirty, petrol-thirsty vehicles that can’t be sold elsewhere. They might seem cheap at purchase, but they’ll cost consumers a lot more in the long run.

“Every Australian would benefit from a pivot to electric
vehicles. Our cities could have clean, quiet roads. Drivers could be spared the
unpredictability of the petrol bowser. And the nation wouldn’t be completely
dependent on foreign fuel imports.

“Australians want to own electric vehicles, this much we
know from polls. But they need much better support from their government and
Labor’s plan would deliver it.

“We urge the Coalition to support this plan so the nation
can be guaranteed progress and a cleaner transport future.”